Father Grendel, the Superior General, selected Father August Gehring, an ex-Togo missionary (expelled from Togo during the First World War) as head of the new Gold Coast Mission. He spoke English but with an accent and thus needed a companion and the choice fell on Father Elsbernd as the nearest and readily available English speaking SVD. . Fr. Elsbernd writes, “we landed at Takoradi, then the only deep sea harbour, on 13th October, 1938. Father Gehring was delighted when he met a taxi driver with whom he could converse in Ewe, who brought us to the Mission in Sekondi. But it did not hinder the driver from demanding twice what it was worth. There we met Father Rothoff, S.M.A. who took us in his car to Cape Coast where Bishop William Por­ter, S.M.A. received us graciously. Next day a pick-up of St. Augustine's College brought us and all our luggage to Accra and to Sacred Heart Church”. From the Sacred Heart Church at Derby Avenue, Accra began the missionary activity of the SVD in the Gold Coast which later became Ghana. ﻿

Province ProjectsThe SVD Ghana Province embarks on various projects and programmes spread out in the Districts where we work. These range from building of schools, catechetical, chapels, water and sanitation, etc. These projects and ongoing programmes are funded primarily from donations received from our donors and friends of the SVD. We would be happy to receive your donation for a particular project or programme you want to contribute towards. Or better still, you may send your donations for SVD Ghana Province to our various SVD mission offices spread throughout the world where we work. The following are the ongoing projects and programmes currently going on in the Province.

ACCRA DISTRICT

- The Renovation of the Guest House in the capital for our confreres serving the people of God in the countryside to have a comfortable place to lay their heads when they are in the capital to do business. Since its construction, this is the first major renovation work taking place. So your donation will be welcomed for this project.